COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTIONOur Sculpin IPA is a great example of what got us into brewing in the first place. After years of experimenting, we knew hopping an ale at five separate stages would produce something special. The result ended up being this gold-medal winning IPA, whose inspired use of hops creates hints of apricot, peach, mango and lemon flavors, but still packs a bit of a sting, just like a Sculpin fish.

Tap at Ballast Point. The beer pours to a dark amber glowing golden body with a white head. The aroma is simply 100% Sculpin with no peppers. The flavor is Sculpin, but it showcases the delicious flavor of the habanero pepper. I thought it had some heat, but not in that way that most of the spicy beers are (green peppers and hot). This beer was a marvelous rendition in that the pepper component came through as expected, rather than a nasty green pepper with heat. It actually blended quite well, and was a highlight of the evening!

Nice crisp copper and light bronzed body with a thinnish pale tan head. Aroma of fresh hops, pine, grass, fruit and a bunch of chiles. Medium-bodied; Big pine and citrus notes in the hops with a large malt presence and an immediate hit of the pungent peppers in here with a pleasant warmth and good balance by the hops and malt. Aftertaste shows a distinct amalgamation of flavours from sweet apricots to pungent grass and herbs of the hops to a little malt backbone and of course the ever-present chile. Overall, a very well balanced and well crafted beer that hits all the right angles without being gimmicky - this is a West Coast IPA with chiles and it works out better than you think it will! I sampled this twelve ounce bottle after a hockey game in Arlington, Virginia on 03-June-2015 - Thanks JP!

I’m no stranger to peppers and capsaicin. I’ve grown jalapenos, habaneros and Trinidad Scorpion peppers. The thing is, peppers and beer only work when the pepper is as subtle as possible; but in the case of Ballast Point Habanero Sculpin the pepper is quite prominent to say the least. This is definitely a beer for those that can handle the heat.

I poured a 12oz bottle into a tulip glass. There was no freshness date and it cost $3.85 ($0.32 per ounce).

Appearance: Mostly clear shade of orange proper. Pours to a fairly large, ivory foamy head which retains and laces quite well for a pepper brew.

Smell: Nearly identical to classic Sculpin. Fairly potent citrusy aroma though the habanero is noticeable as well (and diminishes it a bit, unfortunately).

Taste: There’s really two separate palettes to this beer. The first half of every swig drinks like regular Sculpin: classic San Diego-style citrus and floral hops with a pretty strong bitterness. The second half is all habanero: intense heat at first followed by the familiar earthy pepper flavor (very soil-like). The hops are strong enough to provide a barrier or at least prepare the mouth for the pepper, but not strong enough (nor the pepper weak enough) to relegate it to a background spice. It’s a bit contrasting though it is interesting. I do get used to it by drinking more, though I don’t especially enjoy it any more.

Drinkability: Much like the taste, the actual drinkability of this beer could go either way. I have drank hotter, more intense beers than this, though a good pepper beer is derived from the taste – not just the Scoville units. The Sculpin character makes it drink like an IPA with a medium body and some crispness; though the habanero sets my throat on fire and it lingers for a little while. The 7% ABV is kind of a moot feature since I can only drink about half a bottle. Ballast Point Habanero Sculpin pretty much requires some kind of food to offset the heat (though nothing spicy I’d say).

Take an ordinary Sculpin and make it fiery as hell. An IPA with a hell of a kick to it. Unfortunately a spicy sting might complement a porter or a stout, that sting in an IPA is just out of place. Interesting to try though.

Bottle. Enjoying the heat, it’s quite full on but tastes good rather than just burning. Finding it a little tough to pick anything else out though. Maybe a bit of grassiness in the aroma. Maybe there is a bit of maltiness there. All in all, quite like it though.

bottle at home from brewdog onlinefruity tomato like habanero on nose alongside mango. mango pithy bitterness at first with growing chili heat, great IPA but the habanero really a novelty. pairs well with bbq meat tho

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